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 Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 1:46 pm
The Destiny City Community Center Revival Initiative Project, it turned out, did not exactly have its s**t together. Lazarus knew this for a few reasons. First, because it turned out that their Modern Dance-Off Competition was not, in fact, modern dance even slightly, and was in fact a swing competition. Second, because, while not advertised on the flyer as such, it was also a couples dance-off. And third -- most aggravatingly of all -- because, having been belatedly informed of both of these facts, Lazarus Klein was informed that they were "unable" to refund him his entry fee on the technicality that the entry fees were all "charitable donations" for the revitalization of the DC Community Center (hence the Revival Initiative Project or, by its more accurately aggravating name, RIP). As someone whose primary source of income was an allowance given to him by his handler, the approximate amount of which could be best described as "cute," and who had a tendency to squander said cute allowance on liquor with the immediacy of a man determined to drive his liver into the ground at every opportunity, this presented a problem. The plan had been to enter this competition, dance a little, and win a cool thousand dollars. Instead, Lazarus was about to be out twenty bucks plus bus fare. Giving up on attempting to charm the teapot-shaped little old lady who held the keys to the cash box, but whose hearing was not equal to the task of being properly charmed by Lazarus, he took a few steps back and cast about for any other possible suckers who'd managed to get past the entry fee without realizing they'd need a partner. Surely there was someone else here who'd been just as misled by the terrible flyers as he had.
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 2:02 pm
Lazarus was definitely not the only person who had been misled by those godawful flyers...nor was he the only person with that irritated little edge to his expression at having been told about the requirements of an actual entry, but the lack of refunds available. Granted, Colin's situation wasn't quite so rough - he had an income that allowed him to eat the entry fee without much bother, but there was the whole "that's basically a lie" aspect of the fraudulent posters. Still. He found himself leaning against a wall with his phone and muttering about how the Community Center could suck his d**k if they ever thought he'd do something nice for them ever again. The community didn't need jerk-offs like these guys! "Can't believe this..." Couples swing dancing! And who else would have been as dumb as to do what he'd done? The blond glanced up from a nasty text he was sending the friend that had suggested he attend in time to see Lazarus looking around like maybe he was just as screwed as Colin was. Interesting. "Hey. Did they bait-and-switch you too?" No, he didn't care that there were paired contestants giving him dirty looks for talking like that aloud. Screw 'em.
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 2:27 pm
There were, standing off to one side, a pair of boys in backwards caps and very white sneakers who looked like they, too, had not been prepared for the eventuality of couples swing dancing. Although Lazarus found it gratifying to know that he wasn't suffering alone, it seemed pretty unlikely that either of them knew the first thing about swing dancing, or about improvisation -- or, probably, that they'd be willing to entertain the notion of dancing follow to his lead. Whatever dance they'd been expecting, he didn't think it was swing. In fact, he was pretty sure it also called into question their understanding of "modern." He turned the other way, though, at a nearer voice -- and was pleased to see a better prospect. Standing before him was what appeared to be someone with some dance experience under his belt, if his implied figure was anything to go by. He was a few inches shorter than Lazarus, had pretty, tumbling butterscotch hair, and thighs like a cheetah, built for power and performance. Where Lazarus carried an excess of upper body muscle appropriate for a strip club, the younger man's build suggested something a bit more above-board, way more legwork. Either he was a proper dancer, or else this guy was a bicyclist who just really, really liked dancing. Lazarus put on his best, most dimple-inclusive smile. "Complete with the little old lady who's not as deaf as she's pretending to be," he agreed. "I don't suppose you dance swing? They do give about two hours' prep time to build out basic routines for the songs." He widened his smile to conspiratorial, lifting his eyebrows in a gesture calculated to induce the recipient to take a chance on something outside their comfort zone. It was a smile that said Lazarus had been hoping to do modern dance for a thousand dollars, but would settle for swing and five hundred.
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 3:02 pm
Oh hell. What had he done by talking to this guy? He had a look meant to melt his heart or something and was - as looks of that sort historically tended to be - sure to cause him trouble. "It's pretty much guaranteed she's got better hearing than she's letting on. The deaf little old lady routine's as big a sham as the 'modern dance' part of those stupid flyers." Lazarus was still smiling, still being charming and attractive and basically mentally trying to will him into...what? Dancing with him for the competition? "A bit, yeah. Why, do you?" Not that it would help, this was for couples -- oh. The reason for the shmoozing became quite clear. Mr. Gym-muscles (probably gym muscles, but possibly not) was trying to get him to dance with him. Well now, that was an interesting idea...and wouldn't it be fun to actually get to participate after having been tricked? Okay, color him interested. Colin quirked a brow and tucked his phone back into a pocket. "So. You want me to pair up with you? Shouldn't you tell me your name first so I can curse you properly if you drop me?" There was no way he was going to try lifting the dark-haired guy, he liked his back in good working order, thanks! "But seriously, can you swing dance?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2015 6:12 pm
Lazarus laughed easily at that, like butter smoothed over warm bread. Flirting was a skill not lost to memory, only to motivation. Today he was motivated. "'If I drop you?' If that's all you want it for, you don't need my name," he promised. "Find another reason -- it's Lazarus." He held out a hand to be shaken, smile unrelenting and unruffled. "I picked up swing dance somewhere along the way," he said, which was, to be fair, as much as he knew about when exactly Eli Bell had taken that hobby up. "What about you? A professional, I take it?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 7:08 pm
Having someone attractive paying him attention felt nice after all the ridiculously depressing garbage that had been going on in his life and Lazarus' warm laughter did more for his 'cause' than anything else. It had been a while since Colin had felt wanted by another person and even if it wasn't sexual it still caused him to flush faintly as he responded with a shift of his body language to something more open and interested, less 'crazy-guy needs to go' and offered up a smile of his own. "Nice to meet you, Lazarus. I'm Colin." The blond took the offered hand, liking the dark-haired man's obvious confidence and firm hand shake. Okay, even if Lazarus had said he knew next to nothing about swing dancing Colin was thinking he might have given this a chance, awkward as it might turn out to be. The guy was charismatic, attractive and he kept hitting the right notes to play the danseur right into his hands - literally! "How'd you guess? I'm with the Destiny City Ballet Company at the moment. I thought doing this would be a fun break from Swan Lake." With one hand he gestured at the community center space, the other he ran through his hair as he tended to do when nervous, anxious or basically anything other than calm. The event had looked like it could be fun (and his mother had threatened to come over) until the whole "couples" and "swing dance" things had come up. Though to be perfectly honest...things were definitely looking to be heading in the right direction now.
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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 11:09 am
Progress -- absolutely progress. Lazarus kept his handshake warm and sure, but the satisfaction showed on his face. "Not exactly a Sherlock Holmes deduction, I'm afraid," he admitted. He flicked his gaze down and back up again, staring through long lashes. "You don't get hewn marble thighs like that just from stocking books at the library. DC Ballet Company, though -- that's a hell of a commitment. Your kind starts at age four and lives off beans and roughage till you retire, isn't that right? No wonder you came looking for a cheap thrill." Lazarus took a step back, long fingers drifting not-unintentionally up into his own hair to start winding it back into a loose braid. He pulled a hair tie out of his pocket and held it between his teeth, grinning around the little elastic while he plaited. "What do you say, then, Siegfried," Lazarus prompted, retrieving the elastic and tying off the finished braid, "you interested in scandalizing the ladies' bridge club with me?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 8:45 pm
Smug. There was definitely a measure of smugness in Lazarus' expression, but it wasn't untoward and Colin couldn't really fault the guy for it. He pulled it off very well, the confident, handsome sucker. The once-over didn't faze the blond, he was quite accustomed to being looked at so he just quirked a brow at his companion. "I suppose not." His physique was definitely one that suggested a very small group of professions and as they were both attending this function it further limited it. "It is, but it's what I love so I don't mind. We don't really retire though...we just become teachers or choreographers or both." The braiding process brought back a sudden flash of memory, another person layed over Lazarus that caused his heart to skip and his smile to falter. Björn... How often had he watched the big blond doing the same thing, or helped him with plaiting his hair? Colin shook it off and restablished his smile firmly. "Now how could I refuse an offer like that?" "So...does that make you Odile?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:46 pm
Lazarus answered this question not with an affirmation, but with a toothier, wolfish smile and a raised eyebrow. The Black Swan. Smart boy -- it was a silly fool indeed who could look at Lazarus Klein and imagine they saw innocence. He decided he liked Colin, in a way. He still had that sort of innocence, that general faith in life, that made people feel attracted to danger, drawn to things nature had labeled poisonous in black and gold. The world hasn't been cruel enough to you yet, he thought. Well, it won't be for another day yet, either. Today you're in no more danger than boredom and bad music, so long as von Rothbart doesn't decide to show her face."I might be anything behind the spell," he said coyly. "Isn't that the allure of the Black Swan?" Lazarus gestured with a tilt of his head to the nearby bleachers. A basketball gymnasium didn't really contribute much by way of mise-en-scène, but he supposed at this point, they'd make do. "We can set our stuff down over there," he suggested. "Get our boom box and our CD, and I can help you stretch while we give it the first few listens-through. Not what you're used to, I'm sure, but -- needs must when the devil drives," he said with a meaningful glare in the deaf little old lady's direction. "So, tell me about yourself, Siegfried," Lazarus said, setting down a duffel bag that obviously didn't have much inside it. "Youngest of the family? Oldest? Only and lonely?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:11 am
The look he received for the Odile comment said so very much about just whom Lazarus was as a person, it really did. Not that Colin was one to judge! As far as he was personally concerned, Lazarus was an attractive guy that liked to dance, had a passing knowledge of Swan Lake, and was extremely charming. "Very true. Guess I should keep on my toes then, huh?" Don't tempt him. Colin nodded as his dark-haired companion spoke, taking his suggestions as they made sense and they really needed to get in gear if they were going to pull off anything more interesting than 100% improv while being judged. "It'll be fine, I've done worse." Not that he was going to go into what constituted the worse he'd done, because that wasn't some quick anecdote given to a stranger, no matter how handsome or charming they might be. Besides, he was too busy snickering over the pot-shot Lazarus had delivered in the old biddie's direction. "Eldest, got one sister. Nosy and a real pain, but mostly my family's really good to me." Colin loved them, would have given anything to keep them safe. It was why he went out nights looking like a ballet reject and took hit after hit. from Chaos even though he was exhausted from the day's work. "She still lives at home with Mom...I was replaced by a home office." He didn't sound upset by this at all, more like amused. "What about you? Got family here in DC?" The blond started digging through his bag, pulling out a band to pull his hair back from his eyes, a towel should it be needed, and a filled metallic water bottle. He was prepared, mostly 'cause his dance bag was always prepared and ready for him. "Unless you want to keep your mystery." With a wide-open grin, Colin straightened and half-zipped his bag shut.
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 10:31 am
The CD of music they were assigned to work with turned out to give them about six and a half minutes of music to fill, split over two different songs. There were no real surprises, but Lazarus kept one ear on the music while he and Colin talked. He imagined Colin was doing the same. While Colin's bag was well-packed for dancing, Lazarus's duffel bag held less that was, strictly speaking, useful: namely, all that was inside were a pair of loafers and a small, attractive hip-flask. He took a quick swig from the hip-flask while the old ladies weren't looking, then started taking off his socks and sneakers -- he'd change into the more swing-appropriate loafers later. Not proper shoes, exactly, but good enough for a community center gymnasium, at least. "It's a good sign when they give away your old bedroom," he said genially, seated on the floor. Lazarus unfurled one leg and leaned forward to curl his fingers over his toes, leaning comfortably into the opening stretch. "Means they're comfortable letting you go. And makes it harder for them to drag you back to do house chores," he chuckled, speaking with his face pointed mostly at his own knee. "I've got no family," he answered the question, sitting up but not looking up. "Just me and my landlady." Leaning in to stretch the other leg, he again tilted the conversation back into Let's Talk About Colin. "So, if you're moved out for good, you're done with school then, I take it? Was college on the menu, or did you switch right over to the daily grind?"
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Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 9:53 pm
The music wasn't anything spectacular, but it would be adequate for what they were doing...would be doing? He was used to multi-tasking, often warming up while chatting with the other dancers while music was playing in the background, so it didn't take much to focus on the things he needed to. Including Lazarus' n** from the hip-flask, which only got a slightly quirked brow from the blond even as he was baring his feet and even digging back into his bag for the sturdy medical-grade tape he used at work, even if he might not have needed it. It was routine, familiar and sacred and part of the process, each action part of a process that helped get his body ready to ignore the 'usual' aches and pains. "Mom's been really good about not clinging...I've been pretty independent since I was around 13." Earlier, even, but at that time he had been the one to cleave to his family, uncertain with growing, colt-like limbs and the odd hormonal imbalances of puberty. Colin laughed with the dark-haired man over the house-chores comment, stretching out the muscles in his legs as though he would be going to the barre soon. "I'd just worm my way out of it, house chores are Miri's job now, not mine. It's my job to pop in and demand a hot meal." Clearly his new friend didn't want to talk much about himself, Colin took the hint and made a mental note to not pry so much. He could be really nosy without meaning to and often had to curb that - along with his penchant for being hands-y to the point of rudeness. "Hopefully your landlady is nice." He leaned back a moment and flexed his feet, realizing for the first time that his toenails were still painted from his most recent encounter with Miri. Bright purple. The hell? Did she use apoxy or something? How did I not notice? Easily. It didn't matter in the face of everything else going on in his life. "Done with school, though I never stop trying to improve my skills." He smiled and pulled his feet up to his crotch, holding them while stretching forward. "I've had a few people suggest belly or pole dancing next, but I'm not sure I feel like tackling either of those yet." Colin was flexible, had he felt like showing off he could have contorted in some interesting ways, but that wasn't necessary to warm up for swing dancing. "I went to the Royal Academy of Dance in England for a year after graduation. When I came back I got a job with the Destiny City Ballet Company...so yeah. Daily grind." Clearly he did not mind, at all. He loved his job. "What do you do, if you don't mind my asking?"
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 6:40 pm
If it had been hard to miss Colin's beautifully sculpted thighs, it was harder to miss his painted purple toenails. The precision paint job -- plus the brief look on Colin's face -- suggested an accomplice. Boyfriend or girlfriend? Little sister? Probably not an overly attached mother, based on Colin's description of his family life. Lazarus met two hands behind his back and stretched. The subject of his landlady he decided to ignore -- landlady was about as much black humor as he felt willing to expend on the subject of Stroud. A part of him couldn't shake the notion that talking about her more than necessary was like invoking Bloody Mary in a mirror too many times -- in general, best avoided. "I'm finishing up my training hours at a massage therapy school," Lazarus answered, less obliquely than he'd brushed off the previous question. "Before that, I was a dancer for a handful of years." He looked back up. "How'd you find your stay in England? I'm surprised you'd come back to a small city like this."
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Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 9:00 pm
Perhaps Lazarus would like his toenails painted by a precocious junior high student? Colin usually didn't mind letting his sister paint his nails or put makeup on his face (he was the best model she had - her friends were apparently not enough fun) but sometimes it could be really obnoxious, like if she used something that was supposed to "stay on through a goddamned hurricane". Oh well. "Really?" Because a masseuse was basically one of a dancer's best friends, like an amazing practitioner of sports medicine or toe-tape. "You should come by DCBC when you're done...I think they'd jump at the chance for a good massage therapist." The unspoken part was that he would jump at the chance, though he was eyeing his dorito-shaped companion with a sort of openly interested and thoughtful look now. "Oh, you danced too?" Kind of odd, but he didn't have the body of a dancer - he was too top-heavy. More like the guys in that awful Magic Mike movie his mom liked so much. Which wasn't to say being a stripper was a bad thing, hell he could actually see Lazarus on stage like that pretty easily. Too easily. Oops. Colin had to look at his toes for a moment, cheeks pinking slightly. Damn his fair skin! "Mm, mostly I was at class, but the few times we were let out it was really fun. Rainy is an understatement though." The blond smiled sadly over the second part of Laz's question and couldn't quite help the droop of his shoulders. "Mm, well...I came back 'cause this's where my loved ones were. Are. I mean, yeah I could have stayed. They wanted me to...but there was someone I missed really badly. So here I am." And how well had that gone? Pretty ******** well, until the last year...then things had gotten really bad.
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Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 6:40 pm
Lazarus grinned. "You see, you make an offer like that because you're being nice, but I'll actually take you up on it. Job like that'd be a gold mine, which -- " He raised an eyebrow. " -- As you can see, I'm here, so I could use the occasional gold mine, obviously." He tilted his head to one side, ear easing toward his shoulder, and felt the opposing lines of his neck stretch with the motion. It was amusing and entertaining to watch the various reactions flit across Colin's expressive face. Surprise, first, then curiosity, then a sort of crinkle-nosed attempt at deduction that didn't exactly encompass Lazarus's face -- then, finally, his sheepish expression as a blush stole up his neck and he looked away. "Ah," Lazarus teased, "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand there it is -- Encyclopedia Brown solves the case. The kind of dancing with a T-shaped stage and two poles in the middle, yes." His smile softened a bit, turning more outwardly sympathetic. "Is it going to be a problem?"
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